Tongol: Less trial days not guaranteed despite withdrawn witnesses

MANILA, Philippines — Although the first article tackled in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial is anticipated to end a week earlier than scheduled, a shorter trial overall is not guaranteed, the court’s spokesperson said on Thursday.

Lawyer Reginald Tongol remarked during a press conference a day after the House prosecution panel pulled six more of its witnesses for Article IV, referring to Duterte’s alleged grave threats.

“While we have saved some days now in Article IV, it cannot be said that the whole trial proper will also be shortened because of the six witnesses that have been removed, because it is possible to add those six witnesses or other evidence or other matters in other articles,” Tongol explained.

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READ: ICYMI: Poa weighs in on prosec’s bid to subpoena Sara’s bank records

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The prosecution will present only three of its 11 listed witnesses for Article IV after it opted not to present eight witnesses in total. Initially, 11 trial days were dedicated for the article to dedicate one trial day for the examination of each witness.

However, after the first day being dedicated to preliminary matters, the first two witnesses took up two days each for both the direct and cross-examinations. Then, the sixth day was used for oral arguments on the issuance of a subpoena to the bank and tax records of Duterte.

The seventh trial day, which is on July 20, will be used by the impeachment court to debate and decide on the subpoena request.

Then, the prosecution’s last witness for the said article, National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag, will be presented on July 21.

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After Matibag is presented, the impeachment court will tackle Article I, or Duterte’s alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds.

The Senate impeachment court previously set 31 trial days for Article I.

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After which, Article III, pertaining to Duterte’s alleged bribery of Department of Education officials will be covered for eight trial days, and lastly, Article II, referring to Duterte’s supposed unexplained wealth will be taken up in 12 trial days. /mr

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